Category: Small Family 
Price Range: £11,945 to £20,460
Punchy and smooth petrol engine, class-leading refinement, rides well, good drive.
Price premium, uninspiring looks.
The pick of the Golf range.
Volkswagen trumps the competition with the Golf's refinement. It has worked hard to stop unwanted noise from entering the cabin: engine noise is barely detectable at standstill and wind noise is well-suppressed on the move. Despite some excess tyre noise, the Golf is one of the most refined in its class.
The ride quality is much improved over the previous mark 5 model. It's still firmly sprung, but there's added suppleness to absorb minor road imperfections.
All Golfs have a fair level of equipment. Base S models get air-con, electric mirrors and a trip computer as well as kneebags.
Upgrade to SE spec (+£857) adds an alarm, cruise control, auto lamps and wipers, 16" alloys and an auto dimming interior mirror.
The top-spec GT (+£1,150) adds bigger 17" alloys, front fogs, a multi function steering wheel and tinted rear windows.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Volkswagen Golf
wrote on 20 06 2007
wrote on 14 10 2006
wrote on 06 06 2006